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Once Alex scored with a header in the 29th minute, they were done
for, the shattered confidence draining the life out of their tired
little limbs, barely able to string a pass together as Nicolas Anelka,
an own goal by Kolo Toure and Malouda's 86th-minute strike saw them
off.

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Blues brothers: The Chelsea players celebrate Alex's goal

They have not lost this badly in a home league game since 1977, when
an emerging Ipswich side turned over Terry Neill's team at Highbury,
crashing four past the Gunners as the glory years began under Bobby
Robson.

Judging by events of the past five days, Arsenal's golden era has
also gone, consigned to the time capsule that was buried under the main
entrance when Arsenal made the �350million move to the Emirates in
August 2006.

They occupy fourth position in the Barclays Premier League this
morning, where they will remain until the final ball of the season is
kicked against Stoke City on May 24, readying themselves for what is
becoming an annual date with the Champions League qualifiers.

After this they need a summer to recover, to recharge the batteries
and remind themselves that playing for Arsenal remains a great
privilege. Their supporters deserve better, certainly better than this.

For 25 minutes they gave it a go, with Theo Walcott the most
threatening Arsenal player, bounding his way past Chelsea's defenders
and even poking his England team-mate Ashley Cole in the eye, much to
the delight of the home support.

With a new �50,000-a-week contract in the post, he needed to show
more composure in the opening minute, blasting his effort over Petr
Cech's crossbar when Robin van Persie put him through.

So far so good as Arsenal peppered Cech's goal, with Abou Diaby
sending another effort wide and Walcott steering an inviting chance to
the right of the post. It appeared to be game on until Fabregas clipped
Drogba's heels, earning an inevitable booking after motioning to
referee Phil Dowd that the most unpopular striker in the history of
English football had taken yet another dive.

From Drogba's subtle free-kick, Chelsea took the lead when Alex rose
above the pathetic challenge of Silvestre to plant an excellent header
beyond the reach of Lukasz Fabianski in the 29th minute.

Arsenal looked for a leader, someone who could drag them back into
the game but Chelsea, inspired by the mazy dribbles and the ghosting
runs of Malouda, were unstoppable.

Anelka scored their second just before half-time. It was too easy
for the former Arsenal striker as he set himself up on the edge of the
penalty area, fizzing a shot with the outside of his toe which spun
away from Fabianski and into his bottom left corner.

Chelsea's supporters, still hurting from the perceived injustice
against Barcelona on Wednesday evening, lapped it up, reminding the
opposition-of last month's mismatch at Wembley when they met in the FA
Cup semi-final.

It got to Arsenal's players, notably Toure when he sent Cole's cross
at the start of the second half beyond the stranded figure of
Fabianski, a pitiful sight for this once great defender.

The believers, the survivors still in the stands, were given hope
when Nicklas Bendtner's header in the 70th minute beat Cech, a
well-taken effort which met with the approval of Arsenal's dwindling
support.

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Blunder: Toure (right) turns the ball into his own net

Moments later their hopes of a comeback were destroyed when Anelka's
angled effort rebounded off the post and Malouda restored Chelsea's
three-goal advantage.

That was the signal for Arsenal's supporters to desert the stadium,
turning their backs on the team as Chelsea's interim manager Guus
Hiddink showed a playful side to his character by blowing kisses at
them as they left.